New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-27
WHAT PEOPLE SAY.
CONTRACTORS AND LABORERs.

rux CHOICE pETwEKN NAnOKALITIES-AN fThL<
Ian CONTRACTOR Defends HIS CoUxTRYMEN
70 the Editor OF The Trtbume
SIN, 1 have read Tar TRIBUNE's report OF the
views of Heman CLARK OF the contractors on the
new Aaueduo. Mr.. Clark makes statements concern
ing Italian laborers public works generally which
are erroneous AID calculated to lower the laberefs OF
Italy in the minds of public contractors In America
.ra hass Sc,;no tb;s time employed italians xrsbans
6oapd avian. negroes Swedes. Chnsmen and Irish.
have done various public works in dinerent parts OF
tweoty large and heavy works throughout the United
States. l have done heavy work IN Europe, Africa
and Asia III the construction OF the Sues Canal en-
pioyed Arabians speak six languages and with this
knowledge claim that am in position to state that
Mr. CLARK 10 doing the foreign laborers, especially the
ltalans, very serious wrong.
Nov as regards Chinese laborers on public works
the Pacific Coast they do work cheapy generally not
receiving more than 81 per day. They are slow
workers hut very steady end do not try to shirk"
Mr.. Clark says that Italians work cheaper than the
Irish. This is absolutely not Yet little further
on he states that they i've very cheaply. This will
also positively contradict II the Irish contractors do
say Az. Ask Italian contractor he WIZ tell you
differently The Italian aborers on public Works as
soups Vegetables. msats, bread cheese and general
good. heslthy, mhstaDtal diet. They DO not drink
much whskey. Irish lsborers a rule live on cab
iH sassp pork corn and potatoes because 'a'"
ir my experience as a contractor on public works
Ano the Italian lsborers the best to be found in
America. They honest, sober industrious, hard
working class and can handle to my satisfaction more
yards in day than any other class OF laporers have
ever EMPLOYED This is the kind Of Iaborers all sue
cessful contractors want and must have.
In another place Mr.. CLARK remarks that the lish
look down the Italians" There is between these
two Municipalities difference OF respect toward the
Pope and in this the Italians consider the Irish
beneath them If the Irish look down upon the lts-
fans 1t Is through spirit of seshness, because the
Italians are fast suppanting them on public works
Dir. Clark says that wherever there is large num-
Der of Italian laborers work there always Irish
superintendent and bosses placed over them Here
he makes statement which true twenty years or
more ego, but to-day tho order OF things Is entirely
different there italian superintendent and bosses
now all the Union The Italian American is very
strong and gaining strength every dsy, So numerous
they that had Mr. Clark stated that 20 cent OF
public labor done by them instead OF 80 per cent,
he would have guessed it much nearer. | know tor
tact nat nearly all Of the largest contractors prefer
Italians
Mr. Clark is right in his statement that the italian
aborer up his money sno carries II in bis pocket
places it in some bank. What else does he suppose
handwriting, honest, industrious laborer would do
with his hard-earned money? They do this aud, as a
natural result have always some money laid ap.
The Italians they do choose TO go home after they
have earned by hard labor q certain sum OF money,
have home to go to- and one OF which they may well
be proud Tor they are the representatives OF great
nation, power. How about The Irish III rs entreiy
diheient with them. Who can blame them tor stay
ing in tree America when they once get herci They
have no home, no matter how badly they may desire
to go they represent power, no nation whatever.
Mr.. Clark states that the Italians are imported by
the paroDes, in plain English, that there are men
n
contractors til Italian laborers for specified sum
OF money per capita. This is not fact When ltal-
Ian lsborers to this country they come on then
own individual resources and OF their own tree will.
With regard to Mr.. Clark's statement that they
becoming factor In politics. or in other words
are becoming citizens OF the United States let me
remind him that in San Francisco alone there
than 40. 900 Italiaos among whom citizens OF the
highest respectab.lity serving in the different public
capacities OF State Senator Alderman. supervisor,
Justice of the peace etc. Then through the other
cities aud towns of the Pacific Coast there are fully
10000 more The Italians are becoming stronger
citizens every year. There are great many Italian
papers now being printed in the Union Surely the
Italians are destined become a strong factor in the
citizenship of the United States.
am now engaged in contract work on the Chicago,
Santa Fe and California Railroad, with my head
quarters in La Plata. Macon Co., Mo. shall employ
about 600 laborers here this work, giving
preference to Italians. Now if Mr.. Clark. who
ploys Irish labcrer thinks he DO with the Irish
the work that WI do with the Italians. he is ms
taken. ] will wager 500, 0C0 that will beat him 10
per cent in six months in handling tho same number
OF cnbic yards. know have great an experience
In public work Mr Clark. and have good repu-
tation as any man. and have the means to back my
Judgment. Yours very respectfully,
JOSEPH s. ANToNELLf.
La Plata Mo- March |, 1857.